- Research Article
- 10.36516/jocass.1849486
Real-World Outcomes of Irinotecan–Bevacizumab Therapy in Recurrent Brain Tumors: A Retrospective Cohort Study
- Mar 17, 2026
- Cukurova Anestezi ve Cerrahi Bilimler Dergisi
- Mustafa Seyyar + 12 more +12
Abstract Aim: Although the irinotecan–bevacizumab (IB) combination is a frequently used treatment option in recurrent brain tumors, clinical benefit shows heterogeneity among patient subgroups. This study aimed to evaluate clinical and prognostic factors associated with early-stage mortality and overall survival (OS) in patients receiving IB treatment. Material and Methods: Seventy-eight brain tumor patients who received IB treatment between 2015 and 2023 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with complete clinical and radiological data were included in the study. The demographic, clinical, and pathological characteristics of the patients were recorded. The timing of the initiation of IB therapy was categorized according to whether it was started at the first recurrence or at the second and subsequent recurrences. Factors associated with early-stage mortality (≤6 months) were determined using log-linear regression analysis, while independent prognostic factors affecting GSK were determined using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results: The mean age of patients was 53.01±12.78 years, and the mean follow-up period was 9.47 months. The mortality rate within the first 6 months was determined to be 44.9%. Early-stage mortality was found to be significantly associated with multilobular tumor localization (p=0.037) and initiation of IB therapy at ≥2nd stage (p=0.036). In the log-linear regression analysis, the probability of survival beyond 6 months was 5.05 times lower (RR=0.198, 95% CI: 0.054-0.735) in multilobular localization, while in those who started IB at ≥2nd node, it was 4.40 times lower (RR=0.227, 95% CI: 0.069-0.748). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, starting IB at ≥2nd line (HR: 2.35, 95% CI: 1.09-5.07, p=0.029), the presence of IDH mutation (HR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.09-3.58, p=0.025), and age (HR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05, p=0.015) were identified as independent prognostic factors for GSK. Conclusion: This retrospective cohort study based on real-world data demonstrates that the clinical benefit of the IB combination shows significant heterogeneity across patient subgroups. Multilobar tumor location and initiation of IB therapy in the late stages of recurrence are associated with early mortality and poorer survival. Our findings emphasize that IB therapy in recurrent brain tumors should be administered in a personalized manner, considering patient selection and treatment sequence, rather than as a routine approach.
Read more